Where The Ice Gives Way (Charlotte and Blake) novel Chapter 214

Chapter 214 Side by Side

Blake

By the time Charlotte finishes comforting the last of the wolves, my fingers are starting to go numb around the keys.

She steps down from the bus with Bennett behind her, looking tired, cold, and still somehow ready to climb straight back on if anyone else needs of the younger wolves presses a hand to the window, and Charlotte lifts hers in return, giving them a smile I know costs more energy than she ha

Then she turns toward me.

“Okay,” she says. “We can go now.”

Finally.

I’m not going to say that out loud because I enjoy having all my ribs intact, but I am so relieved. I want to go home. I want my own bed, my own s own rink. I want to get back on the ice and spend an hour thinking about nothing but the puck, my skates, and the burn in my legs.

I want one small piece of my life that does not come with future Alpha pressure sitting on my shoulders.

Charlotte reaches the truck, and I open her door before she can touch the handle.

She looks up at me with those big green eyes. “I’m not fragile.”

“No, of course not,” I say, taking her bag from her shoulder. “You’re exhausted.”

She narrows her eyes, but climbs in anyway, and close the door, circle the truck, and glance back once at our strange little convoy.

A strange little miracle.

When we drove here, it felt like we were heading into a storm with no idea how bad it would get. Now we’re leaving all of the behind us, and we are fin

on the road home.

I start the truck and pull onto the snow-covered road as Charlotte settles beside me with a quiet sigh, her eyes already tracking the bus in the side mirr

And in the backseat, Theo is tucked around Emily. She’s sitting in the middle seat this time, pressed into his side with one of his hoodies pulled over her

Γ ́

shirt.

Every few minutes, he looks down at her and smiles like a love-sick puppy. It is disgusting, and I could not be happier.

Before we came here, every touch between them had been so careful. Theo had barely breathed too loudly near her, and Emily had been so timid.

Now they’re all over each other, unable to keep their hands to themselves.

Theo catches me watching through the mirror and narrows his eyes.

“Eyes on the road, Future Alpha.”

i snort and shake my head. “You used to give me so much shit.”

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Chapter 214-Side by Side

Theo Jeans back, pulling Emily closer with a smug smile. “I still plan to.

I roll my eyes, and Charlotte laughs beside me as the road widens and we hit the highway. Trees blur past on either side, heavy with snow; the rad

turned up louder, and the road disappears behind us.

Theo

The drive is long.

By the time Wellington finally comes into view, the sky is dark, my legs are stiff, and everyone is more than ever being in the car. Even Blake has st pretending he is enjoying the peaceful road trip. Charlotte is half-asleep against the window, Emily is tucked into my side, and I have been trying n

move for the last hour because her cheek is resting on my chest.

My arm is completely numb, but it’s still worth it.

The first Wellington marker appears beside the road, and I almost sigh out loud.

Home.

I want my bed. I want a shower that does not belong to a cabin. I want to walk into my house, close the door behind us, and keep Emily there where

can reach her.

Then my brain catches up.

Wait.

Will Emily want to stay with me?

We didn’t talk about it. She slept beside me at the cabin, but that was different. We were away, and everything was messy and strange and heavy.

Now we are almost home.

Well, my home.

Her home, too?

Does she know that?

Does she want that?

I look down at her. Her eyes are open now, watching the road with a sleepy softness that makes my chest ache.

Surely she wants to stay with me. Right?

Г

Yelen lifts his head inside me. Ask her, coward.

The truck slows as Blake turns into his driveway. The bus pulls in behind us, followed by the other cars. Forch lights thick on across the property, and people

begin spilling out before the engine even turns off.

Mara comes down the porch steps, wrapped in a thick coat, her eyes going straight to Charlotte Charlie is behind her, hands shoved into his pockets, trying to look casual, but he looks stressed as hell. My dad is there too, standing by the side of the driveway with his arms crossed and his coat halt bettoned, like

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Chapter 214 Side by Side

he came out in a hurry.

I get out and reach for Emily’s hand before I grab my bag and hers, setting both beside me on the driveway.

My dad walks straight toward Emily with open arms. Arms that are rarely gentle and careful. “Come here, sweetheart.”

Emily steps into his hug, and Dad wraps her up carefully one hand at the back of her head as his eyes close. Something warm and proud moves across

face as he holds her.

“I heard what happened,” he says quietly. “I’m sorry you had to face all of that, but I’m really proud of you.”

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